'The Pep era at Manchester City has come to an end!'

Carles Planchart, a longtime companion of Pep Guardiola over 18 years, thinks it’s time for the Spanish manager to step away from Manchester City to recharge and pursue fresh opportunities in his coaching journey.

In an interview with SPORT, Carles Planchart — former performance analyst for Guardiola at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Man City — stated that the time has come for Pep to “refresh himself” after nearly a decade at the Etihad Stadium.

“I believe a project should only last five or six years, no more. After that, you need to renew your energy. As a friend, I advise him to look for a new project because he still has a long way ahead,” he shared.

Planchart left Manchester City last season, ending almost two decades working alongside Pep in various roles. He believes that after so much success, Pep needs a break to avoid burnout.

“Sometimes you run out of energy, and when that happens, everything becomes difficult. We have had many injuries, performance has dropped, even within the coaching staff. You can’t keep up that intensity forever,” Planchart added.

This opinion comes amid Manchester City’s struggles since the start of the 2024/25 season. After winning four consecutive Premier League titles, Guardiola’s team finished third last season — 13 points behind Liverpool — and endured a run of 13 matches with only one win, their worst form since he arrived in England.

Pep Guardiola currently has a contract until 2027 and has spoken about his desire for a long break after leaving the Etihad. “Maybe I will leave football for 15 years,” he once told the Daily Mail. However, Planchart believes that City becoming a “second home” is why Pep has stayed longer than at previous clubs. “At City, they treat us like family, allowing us to work freely. He never felt that at Barcelona or Bayern,” he said.

The former assistant also suggested that if Pep leaves Manchester City, it should not be seen as an end, but rather a new chapter in the career of a coach who has defined a generation. “He lives for football and will definitely return. But first, he needs time to reinvent himself,” Planchart concluded.

Currently, Manchester City sits fifth in the 2025/26 Premier League standings with 13 points from 7 matches, three points behind leaders Arsenal. Despite a strong goal difference (15-6) and maintaining an attacking style, Guardiola’s team shows signs of inconsistency, dropping points in key games. Winning only 4 out of 7 matches has increased pressure to catch the top group, especially given the extremely congested upcoming schedule.

Meanwhile, Guardiola’s future remains uncertain. Although there are no signs of departure yet, advice from his closest associate suggests that even those near Pep believe his era at Manchester City is gradually drawing to a close.

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